Wednesday, 13 May 2015

News: Fighting Continues in Providence as Y-MPWL Station Is Reinforced

9UY4-H system, Providence Bloc. On the 11th of May, 20:00 EVE Standard Time, Providence Bloc forces clashed with Northern Coalition(dot) [NC] once more in the system.Providence Bloc brought around 160 pilots, split between a main fleet comprised of Ishtar Heavy Assault Cruisers, Goku Bombers and a Caracal Cruiser gang.[NC] brought a Tempest Fleet Issue Battleship fleet, approximately 90 pilots strong with Triage Carrier support.Providence Bloc was en route to the Y-MPWL system, where the station was reinforced a few days before by [NC]. As they were traveling to the system, scouts reported [NC]'s fleet had already bridged into the system, thus beating them there. Unwilling to take the [NC] force head on, yet wanting to secure the station, Providence Bloc decided to hold in the 9UY4-H system, and hopefully divert [NC]'s attention.

To do so, they hit upon a tower which was brought in by [NC] and anchored in the system. At the same time, Interdictors were stationed on the gates in the systems between 9UY4-H and Y-MPWL to slow [NC]'s movement.As [NC] forces received notifications of what was happening, it was already too late, burning slowly to 9UY4-H, stalled by the Interdictors, they arrived after the tower was already reinforced. At the same time, a detachment of Tech I Logistic Cruisers was sent via the jump bridge network to repair the station.However, before Providence Bloc could extract their fleets safely from 9UY4-H they were caught at the U-HYMT gate, where [NC] Interdictors prepared drag bubbles in advance, as they had a spy on the Providence Bloc fleet feeding them information.The [NC] fleet landed just as the Providence Bloc Ishtars burned off the gate and a quick exchange started, with the Ishtars volleying off Battleships, and at the same time the Tempest Fleet Issues melting Ishtars in rapid succession.After a few more minutes of brutal skirmishing, with the Ishtar fleet unable to break the Tempest Fleet Issues' tank as its drones were being destroyed, and losing ships, a decision was made to dock up. This was done because the station was already secured, its shields raised enough to reset the reinforcement timer.With Providence Bloc disengaging, [NC] forces extracted from the system. Putting an end to the fighting.Battle report for the 9UY4-H system can be found here.All told the 9UY4-H system hosted nearly 300 pilots at the peak of the fighting, with Time Dilation not reported as a factor. The fighting itself lasted approximately 20 minutes.Providence Bloc lost the majority of the ships, 52 versus [NC]'s 6. The damage disparity is smaller though, Providence Bloc receiving only 7 Bil ISK worth compared to [NC]'s 3 Bil ISK.Though Providence Bloc lost the battle, it won the strategic objective, forcing [NC] to reinforce the station once more, having their staging tower reinforced and even managing to uncover and dispose of a spy.

As for [NC], it may have gotten the fight it wished for, but not the outcome, as sources report much frustration within the alliance, especially due to some of the poor form shown, especially against what many consider an inferior opponent.After the events of the battle, [NC] reinforced the Y-MPWL station once more and incapacitated the jump bridge in the system as well.As the conflict continues to rage, it seems from a spectator's viewpoint that the [NC] war machine has been losing steam lately. Only the coming days will tell whether the conflict has run its course, or if it was merely the quiet gathering before the storm.

Special thanks to corebloodbrothers, of Volition Cult, The Volition Cult, for granting an interview.